Special Olympics

The Nebraska Special Olympics Summer Games are going on in Omaha right now.

As a therapist, I volunteered to go help with the Fun Fitness activities. Fun Fitness is a time when competing athletes can come and go through a number of fitness testing stations, maybe 8 or so. Physical Therapists, PTAs, and PT and PTA students come and do the testing. We look at flexibility, strength, and balance. After they go through the stations, they come to an education station (where I was working). Here we give them a book of exercises and decide based on their strengths and weaknesses what they need to concentrate on. Then we show them the exercises, watch them do them, wish them luck in their events and move on to the next person. It is always a really fun time! The athletes are so excited to tell you about their events, show you their medals, or tell you about their day. I really like the prevention and wellness piece that we provide. The athletes ranged from 8 to 75 (at least the people that I saw) and they seemed to have a great time. Can't wait to do it again next year.